Compare towns
Easthampton vs Plainville vs Windsor Locks vs Spencer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Easthampton has the most people working from home (19%).
Plainville has the highest household income ($84k).
Windsor Locks has the most homeowners (77.1%).
Spencer has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Easthampton | Plainville | Windsor Locks | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,086 |
17,551Highest |
12,579 |
12,008Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6 18% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor Locks and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,673±$7kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$84,343±$7kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Plainville and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15k 12% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70 9% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Easthampton and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #92 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Windsor Locks School District | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Plainville High School | Windsor Locks High School | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
11.4Highest |
8.9Lowest |
9.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.